Phillies Notes Loup Arrives, Ramos to Minors and Hunter Takes 96
The Phillies have a new bullpen lefty (Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
The Phillies made a few moves as a combination of health and a new acquisition helped shuffle a few thing around. Besides roster moves, there were some jersey number moves as well. Here is a rundown of the Phillies activity from their day off.
Aaron Loup Arrives in Philadelphia
Aaron Loup has joined the Phillies active roster. Loup will remain in addition to other left-handed pitchers Adam Morgan and Austin Davis. While the Phillies had just one left-handed reliever at times, they will be rich in that department for right now, Loup will wear number 47, most recently worn by Pedro Beato. The Phillies acquired Loup in a trade deadline deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yacksel Rios was with the Phillies for the series in Boston. He did not pitch. Rios was occupying the roster spot of Morgan, who was out on paternity leave. With Morgan back with the Phillies, he will head back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Edubray Ramos Heads to Triple-A
Also heading to Triple-A Lehigh Valley is reliever Edubray Ramos. Ramos had been on the 10-day disabled list since June 25 with a right shoulder impingement. It looks odd to send a reliever with a 1.91 earned run average to Triple-A. But maybe the Phillies want to use their new depth on the active roster to let Ramos get his feet back under him after the disabled list stint at Triple-A.
Uniform Numbers Change as Ramos Takes Familiar 40 From Hunter
Newly-acquired catcher Wilson Ramos will not play a game for the Phillies for at least a couple weeks. That did not stop him from taking a uniform number from another player on the roster. Tommy Hunter gave Ramos his number 40 jersey that Ramos was accustomed to, after initially being assigned number 33.
Hunter did not take the available 33 or any other conventional number. Instead he will be the first player in Phillies history to wear number 96. Only two players in major league history have worn the number before: Mac Suzuki of the 1996 Seattle Mariners and Bill Voiselle, who played with the Boston Braves and Chicago Cubs from 1947-1950.
Reliever Pat Neshek of course took number 93 this offseason as his preferred number 17 was given to Rhys Hoskins after his departure.